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Have you visited these stores? How and why Broome conducts contact tracing for COVID-19.

Three times in the past week, Broome County officials detailed locations where a coronavirus-positive resident had worked or visited, and told others who visited the location to self-quarantine.

Officials announced positive COVID-19 cases at the Mirabito on Upper Front Street in Dickinson, the Pack & Mail in Endwell, and the Walmart in Vestal, and told anyone who visited the locations on certain days and times to self-quarantine.

Here is how county officials conduct trace investigations and determine whether or not to notify the public.

When a positive COVID-19 case is reported

Once Broome County receives a report a person tested positive for COVID-19, the contact tracing team will reach out to the person and determine where they've been the two days prior to developing symptoms.

"Since sometimes people might not feel well and wait it out at home for a couple days with fever reducers and fluids, and then opt to call their doctor, we trace back 48 hours from the day the symptoms developed," Kaufman said.

The test may be administered around day five, Kaufman said, and it takes about two days for the results to come back.

Examining logs, footage

Kaufman said most times, the team is able to identify everyone who could have been at risk for contracting the virus.

Kaufman said purchasing logs and video footage are utilized to see who the person interacted with.

These two methods have been extremely helpful in locating people who are then contacted by the health department and are asked to quarantine, Kaufman said.

Masks, distancing helpful

Price Chopper on Glenwood Avenue in Binghamton requires shoppers to follow signage on the floors and has made aisles one way to curb clusters of shoppers in a single aisle.(Photo: Ashley Biviano / Press & Sun-Bulletin)

Community members should take trips to the store alone if possible, Kaufman said, in an effort to limit any exposure.

"You don't need to run through the store and grab everything you need in a hurry to get in and get out, but also don't try to prolong your time in public spaces," Kaufman said.

People have generally been good maintaining physical distance, she said.

Have you visited these 3 Broome County stores recently?

The county said April 18 that an employee at Walmart on the Vestal Parkway tested positive for COVID-19. Anyone who was in the store's grocery department April 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. is asked to self-quarantine and contact a health provider if symptoms develop.

On April 16, the county said an employee of the Mirabito Convenience Store located at 879-881 Upper Front St. tested positive. The county says people in the store at the following times should self-quarantine if symptomatic: April 3, from 5:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.; April 4, from 6:30-10:30 a.m.

An employee of Pack and Mail at 214 Kent Ave. in Endwell tested positive for COVID-19. Anyone in the store from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 10 or 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 11 should self-quarantine and contact the health department if they develop symptoms.